Author: Platform Times Newspaper

By Kola Adesina Ultimately, it is not the years of your life that matter. It is the life in your years. – Abraham Lincoln.By Kola AdesinaWhy are we here? What is the purpose of man on earth? This ordinary and simple question has challenged the greatest minds since the beginning of time. It has also posed an unending challenge to kings, philosophers, well-decorated scholars, and researchers. In one of such attempts for an answer, one of the greatest Chinese philosopher-kings of the 12th Century assembled one thousand best thinkers and opinion leaders of his time and gave them a ten-year…

In a bid to foster a culture of reading and enhance literacy skills among pupils in Abeokuta, the Rotary Club of Abeokuta Metro recently organized the Read a Book Challenge Competition as part of its observance of Basic Education & Literacy Month. The initiative, held under the auspices of Rotary International’s commitment to education, saw enthusiastic participation from students across several metropolitan communities. The project, which commenced on Monday, September 23rd, culminated in a spirited competition amongst pupils from Basic 1 to 6. Sixteen finalists emerged from rigorous rounds of reading assessments, showcasing their newfound literary prowess. Popoola Abdulroqueeb of…

… 50  Fallen Customs Officers’ Widows Get Palliatives Daud Olatunji  Wife of Comptroller-General,and the National President of the Customs Officers’ Wives Association (COWA), Mrs. Kikelomo Adeniyi, has awarded scholarships to 54 outstanding pupils from Nigeria Customs’ schools. The COWA national president also distributed palliatives  to over 50 widows of fallen customs officers. PLATFORM TIMES reports that these were  done  during her oversight visit to the Ogun I Chapter of COWA on Friday. The visit, which took place at the Ogun 1 Area Command in Idiroko, was marked by acts of compassion and support for both students and the widows of…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested the former governor of Taraba State, Darius Ishaku, in connection with an alleged N27 billion fraud.  PLATFORM TIMES gathered that the former governor, who completed his tenure in May 2023, was taken into custody on Friday.  PLATFORM TIMES further gathered that as of Friday evening, Ishaku was still being held at the EFCC’s detention facility as investigators intensify their efforts to build a robust case against him. According to a source, the EFCC has already prepared at least 15-count charges against the ex-governor, and legal proceedings are expected to commence soon.…

A staggering expenditure of N403 million for the renovation of toilets by the Federal Ministry of Justice has sparked widespread public outrage and concern over the country’s fiscal management. Records from the government’s public payment portal, GovSpend, reveal that the hefty amount was spent in a single day, raising eyebrows over the administration’s spending priorities. The revelations point to the payments made under the leadership of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN. According to the data, on June 27, 2024, a total of N158 million was disbursed for the renovation of toilets at the…

Emmanuel Oludare  The House of Representatives has summoned the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, and social media personalities Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky, and influencer Martins Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan, over a bribery scandal involving N15 million.  PLATFORM TIMES gathered that the  summons, which also includes the Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS), stems from allegations that Okuneye bribed EFCC officials to drop money laundering charges against him. The Joint Committees of the House issued the summons following the circulation of a viral social media recording in which Bobrisky allegedly confessed…

Phebe Falodun  No fewer than 30 senior lecturers at the Sa’adu Zungur University (SAZU), Bauchi, have resigned due to poor working conditions and unpaid salaries, raising alarms over the deteriorating state of the institution.  The lecturers, all holders of Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees, left their positions amid growing administrative challenges that have plagued the state-owned university for years. The Zonal Coordinator of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Bauchi Zone, Namo Timothy, made this disclosure on Friday during a press conference held at the university’s Yuli campus. Timothy painted a grim picture of the institution’s current state, describing…

Deborah Hundenu The devastating flood sweeping across Kebbi State has claimed 29 lives and wreaked havoc on thousands of households and farmlands. PLATFORM TIMES reports that the . state, known for its key agricultural contributions, is now grappling with the destruction of crops like rice, maize, and guinea corn, heightening fears of food shortages. According to the state government, the floodwaters have ravaged 16 out of Kebbi’s 21 local government areas, destroying over 321,000 houses and submerging 858,000 farmlands.  Addressing journalists in Birnin Kebbi on Friday, the Commissioner for Information, Yakubu Ahmed, raised alarm over the scale of devastation. “If…

In a renewed effort to address the alarming rate of zero-dose  children in Nigeria, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has announced a partnership with the Federal Government to prioritize routine immunization in 100 local governments across 18 states.  PLATFORM TIMES reports that this  collaboration is focused on reducing the number of unvaccinated children and increasing vaccination uptake by 15 percent annually, with the goal of reaching 30 percent more vaccinated children by 2025. Speaking at a two-day media dialogue held in collaboration with the Lagos State Primary Healthcare Board ,  Chief of UNICEF Field Office for the Southwest, Celine…

In an effort to combat the rising cases of colon cancer in Nigeria, the Niola Cancer Care Foundation, in partnership with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), has launched a public outreach aimed at educating citizens on how to protect themselves from the deadly disease.  The campaign, which took place at Omida Market, Abeokuta, sought to raise awareness and provide practical steps for cancer prevention, particularly among market women and the general public. Speaking during the event, Eniola Akintunde, the founder and executive director of Niola Cancer Care Foundation, revealed that her personal experience with the disease—losing her husband…